Lighter



May 8, 1951 c. l.. ME'rzLER ET Al. 2,551,688

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May 8, 1951 c. l.. METzLx-:R ET AL 2,551,688

LIGHTER Filed NOV. 1, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 ,dfn f@ l0 l 712g f/ f6 Je fz lil/MN 4 TTIVE YS Patented May 8, 1951 LioH'rER Charles L. Metzler, Palisades Park, N. J., and Billi Bowen, New York, N. Y., assignors to Stratford Pen Corporation, New York, N. Y., a

corporation of New York Application November 1, 1949, Serial No. 124,752

4 Claims. l

This invention relates to a structurally vand functionally improved lighter of the pocket type.

It is an object of the invention to furnish a lighter assembly which will be pleasing in ap.- pearance and include relatively Vfew parts individually simple and rugged in construction, such parts combining to furnish a unitary mechanism operating over long periods of time with freedom from all difficulties.

A further object is that of furnishing a structure in which it will not be necessary for the user to ll a reservoir or similar part of the assembly with volatile fuel. Rather, an improved apparatus is furnished in Ywhich the fuel will be con tained in a part which is renewable as a uni-t and which will ordinarily not require such renewal until after thelighter has been used several thousandvtimes.

An additional object is that of furnishing a fuel-containing flask or cartridge of novel design which will cooperate with the mechanism of the lighter in a most advantageous manner.

With these and other objects in mind, ref erence is had to the attached sheets of drawings illustrating practical embodiments of the inven; tion and in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan View of the lighter;

Fig. 2 is a sectional side view along the lines 2--2 and in the direction of the arrows as indicated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view along lines 3-3 and in the direction of the arrows as indicated in Fig. 2;

Fig.- 4 is an, upper section alone the lines 4-4 and in the direction of the arrows as indicated in Fig. 1;

Figs. 5, 6 and '7 are sectional views taken respectively along the lines ^-,5, Bru- 5 and 1 1' in the direction o f the arrows as indicated in Figi.;

Figs. 8 and 9 are enlarged sectional views ofthe upper flask portion and showing the valve mechanism in different positions; i

Fig. 10 is a sectional vView showing alternative structure and taken along lines I-St ofA Fig. l1;

Fig. 11 is a sectional side View;

Figs. 12ov and 13 are sectional views along li-nes l2-l2 and I3-'-l3of` Figs. 10 and ll respectively.; and

Fig. 14 isa perspective view oi an actuating structure.

Referring` primarilyy to Figs. 1 -to 7, it will be seen Ythat an exterior casing provided which includes sections Il! and I-I hingedly` connected to each other as at I24 and at their opposite ends being secured against separation by 'means oa suitable latch structure. This structure as shown in Fig. 7 conveniently includes an arm I3 of a spring and which is provided with an opening It. This spring is secured to section Ie and extends beyond the same to overlap the inner face of section Il when the casing is closed. In line with the opening I 4 both sections may have their edges notched to provide an access opening. Section Il is conveniently formed with an instruck portion I5, which provides a detent for cooperation with the edges of opening I. It is thus apparent that as the casing sections are swung towards each other the detent I5 will override the edge of spring I3, which may be reduced in line with the opening I l and will deect this spring. Continued closing movement of the casing sections will cause the detent I5 to move into opening lf3 to thus secure the parts against separation. If, thereupon, it is desired to open the casing this may be achieved by exerting pressure against the spring i3 at a point adjacent the opening I4 to deflect the latter inwardly. This will free detent I5 and the sections may then be swung around hinges I2.

Rotatably mounted by section IIJ is an actua-- tor. The latter preferably includes a shaft portion mounting a pair of spaced rollers I6 conveniently having their surfaces knurled and having a sparking wheel or hub Il disposed between them. A frame I8 may be suitably secured to the inner face of casing section Il? and provide bracket portions I9 which rotatably support the shaft 2B mounting the actuating rollers It and the sparking wheel or hub. The bracket also supports a tube 2I within which a pyrophoric plug 22 is disposed to engage with the surface of sparking hub I'I. A lever 23 is pivotally supn ported as at 24 by the frame I8 and has cooperating with it a spring 25 urging its inner end in an upward direction. This inner end underlying plug 22, maintains the latter iii operative association with the sparking wheel. At this time it is to be noted that the frame is also provided with an extension 26 which functions as a stop in a manner hereinafter brought out.

The fuel for the lighter is contained within a cartridge or flask 2l. The latter may be filled with propane or butane in liquid or gaseous form and at relatively low pressures. It may contain any fibrous material, should this be desired. As shown especially in Fig. 2, it is preferably formed with a` centrally recessed portion .'8 to each side of which it is provided with upward extensions 29 and 3D, In line with the recessed portion 28 it is formed with an opening within which a valve assembly is disposed. This assembly may take one of several different forms. For the purpose of the present disclosure it may be considered as embracing the structures shown in detail in 8 and 9.

In these views, the casing has been indicated at 21 and the upper surface of the latter has been shown as presenting an opening. Fixed within this opening in any desired manner is a Sleeve 3| having its inner face threaded and mounting a tube 32. In turn mounted by the threads formed in the inner face of this tube is a cap 33, formed with an upper opening through which there slideably extends a nozzle preferably terminatingr in a head Nozzle 3d has adjacent its lower end a guiding portion 3S slideably bearing against the inner face of cap 33 and conveniently mounting a packing ring 37. A spring 3f? is interposed between the end of cap 33 and the portion 36. The latter may be notched or reduced as indicated at 3l! and the inner end of bore 4G of the nozzle communicates with this notch. Portion 35 may also have its lower face recessed to receive a block or disc of rubber 4I which may be formed of synthetic material.

Inward movement of portion 36 and sleeve 3 is limited by a stop plate 2 disposed adjacent the inner end of cap 33. Plate i2 in line with the block 4I is formed with an aperture 43 so that the block in cooperation therewith provides a valve structure. A spacing ring fl!! is disposed be veen plate 42 and the reduced end portion l5 of tube 32. The plug 46 is rotatably mounted in a bushing 41 having threaded engagement with the threads of the reduced end portion 5 of tube 32. Plug 4B is formed with a transverse passage i9 disposed to one side of its center. It may also be provided with an actuating notch 139 suitable for engagement with an implement such as a screwdriver. Below plug 4S a disc 59 is fixed, the latter having spacing rings I disposed in contact with its upper and lower faces. This disc is also formed with an opening 52 disposed to one side of its center. Thus, the plug is maintained in a position materially above the lower end i5 of tube 32 and the latter in turn terminates substantially in advance of the lower end of sleeve 3|. At that point the sleeve may have extending across its bore a plate 53 which is apertured as at 54. As shown, the assembly extends for a substantial distance into the body of the ilask This flask or cartridge, as afore brought out, is lled with suitable fuel.

When the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 8 a ow of iiuid is arrested incident to the fact that plug 4I bears in sealing engagement with the surface of plate When the nozzle 34 is elevated, as in Fig. 9, block 4I is spaced from aperture 43. Under these circumstances a ow will occur through openings 54, and 52, the space intervening discs Eil and plug ll, the bore 48 of the latter and aperture d3. In such fiow it will pass through expansion chambers which ex1st as a consequence of the spacing between parts 53 and 5E?, parts i5 and and the latter and guiding portion 35. Therefore, the fuel emerging from the end of the nozzle will be in the form of a gas suitabel for igniting. The volume of such 'flow may be controlled by rotating plug 46 to ahgn its passage l to a greater or lesser extent with the opening 52 through disc 59. Control of the flow may also be achieved by tightening the bushing 4l to a greater or lesser extent.

N ow with a view to providing means which will serve to establish and interrupt thel now of gas 4 l from the assembly, frame I8 may be provided with a bracket 55 which pivotally supports an actuating lever in the form of a bellcrank 55. The latter has a body portion 5l adjacent its inner end and which partially encircles nozzle 3d below head 35. The outer end of the lever extends to a point beyond casing sections I and II, which for this purpose are formed with notches to permit its passage. Accordingly1 this outer level' end may be engaged by the fingers of an operator and pressed to cause its inner end to be rocked upwardly. With such inner end c0upled to the nozzle, the latter will be raised against the seating pressure of spring 33 to shift the parts from the position shown in Fig. 8 to that illustrated in Fig. 9. With the release of this pressure, the thrust of spring 38 will not alone serve to close the valve, but will also cause the actuating portion of lever 5S to again be swung out.

In operation it will be understood that with the parts assembled in the manner shown in Fig. 2, an operator desiring to use the apparatus will simply turn shaft 29 by engaging either of the rollers I5 and imparting thereto a rotation. Before, or simultaneously with this operation he will shift the outer end of lever 56 inwardly to open the valve assembly. Therefore sparks will be directed inwardly from the surface of the wheel or hub I'I towards end of nozzle 34. As shown, an extension or nap 58 forming a part of section IB may overlie the hub Il to act as a deilector for the glowing particles projected thereby. The gas will therefore be ignited and after the device is used lever 56 may be released. This will interrupt the gas flow and extinguish the flame. Due to the capacity of the flask or cartridge, the apparatus may be operated several thousand times without renewal of the fuel Supply.

The spring of which arm I3 forms a part, is preferably secured to the casing section by rivets. Its lower leg may be bowed, as indicated at 59. This will cause it to yieldingly bear against the flask. The movement of the latter will in turn be limited by the stop 29. At the end spring-leg 59 may be offset as at G to furnish a recess for the reception of a spare plug 22. The pivots of the actuator 56 and the lever 23 are preferably aligned; these elements being conveniently supported on a single shaft.

As will be apparent, when a renewal of the flask is necessary, the operator may simply bring pressure to bear through the opening in the flange of the casing against spring I3 to deflect the latter. This will cause the opening I4 formed in that spring to clear the detent I5. Accordingly, the latch structure will be released and the casing sections may thereupon be swung to open position. The spent iiask may be removed. Thereupon a new flask may be inserted. Such insertion occurs in a convenient and sidewise direction. It automatically establishes a coupling between the stem or operating element 34 of the valve assembly and the actuator 56. As afore brought out, the relatively projecting parts 29 and 30 on the flask will bear against adjacent portions supported by the casing so that the flask will be properly positioned. Additionally, the portions 29 and 3D of the flask will provide for increased capacity of the latter. With the casing sections again latched, the operator, by simply engaging and moving one or both of the rollers I6, will cause the sparking hub or wheel II to direct sparks toward the outlet of the nozzle.

In Figs. 10 to 1.4 an alternative form of structure has been shown. YIn these views similar reference numerals have been used to identify parts heretofore described."""lhus', it will be obf served that there is again inv'olvd la casing the sections of which are hingedly connected and which receives a ask the flow of fuel from which is controlled by a valve mechanism. Eoweyer, certain parts of that mechanism have in these views been altered as has also the actuator of that mechanism.

Referring primarly to Fig. 1,45 the actuator may embrace in lieu of the b'ell crank t, an arm di to which there is coupled a' crank portion 6E extending beyond the side wall of the casing. This arm is provided with an angularly offset end portion 63 terminating in a slotted or forked part 64. A spring 55 may encircle a shaft $5155, and bear against a stop @i as well as the base of a notch 68 formed in arm 5l. Therefore, the latter, together with its actuator crank 2 will be urged in an outward direction.

In this form of construction there extends ircm the centrally recessed part of the flask a housing 69. Projecting above the latter is a headed actuator l!! which may control the valve mechanism in the same manner as heretofore described in connection with Figs. 8 and 9. The upper surface of the housing may be bevelled as at il for co operation with the angularly extending surface 63 of arm 6i. With the head of actuator extending within the fork Gt it is apparent that under normal conditions spring 65 will assist in shifting' the arm Si to a point at which the valve is maintained in closed position. However, if actuator crank B2 is pushed inwardly, the angularly extending surfaces E3 and li will cooperate to raise the forked portion ifi. The latter engaging against the under surface of the lhead portion of the actuator it, it follows that with such inward movement the actuator will be raised and the valve will thus be opened.

As is also apparent incident to the forked construction the flask valve-as it is shifted into position Within the casing-will be automatically and operatively coupled with arm Eil. In this connection it will be observed that the surface of the ilask from which housing :Se extends is preferably inclined, and housing 5# extends perpendicularly therefrom. With such inclination and the inclination of the forked end portion @il the parts are automatically guided as the flask is positioned. Additionally, any flame generated will be directed to one side of the spark producing mechanism.

As will also be seen in these views the socket portion 'l2 receiving the pyrophoric plug may be slotted in its lower surfaces as at i3. Arm 'i3 is pivotly mounted upon shaft @t and urged upwardly by a spring 15. This arm has an offset portion riding within slot i3 and bearing against the base of the plug. The arm may also be provided with an extension 'it which permits of its ready engagement by the linger of the operator for purposes of retraction while positioning a new plus.

Thus, among others, the several objects of the invention as speciiically .aforenoted are achieved. Obviously numerous changes in construction and rearrangement of the parts might be resorted to and the steps of the method might be varied in numerous particulars without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the claims.

We claim:

1. A lighter including in combination a pair of sections, each of said sections comprising a substantially longitudinal side wall Iand danses gx; tending inwardly from the edges of said wall, a hinge connecting adjacent. Sfide. ilellgs, 0f. .Qfff ent sections whereby the latter may be sw vng to positions adjacent each other te gravide la Ca'sia the area and outline of said walls and flanges being such that the casing provided thereby 'is relatively long in width and narrow in depth, a shaft rotatably mounted by one of said sec with its axis extending longitudinally of and ad-` jacent the upper dange thereof, a sparking and actuating roller carried by said shaft,r a pyrof phoric plug support carried by said section at a point adjacent said wheel, a bell-cranlg:` pivotally supported by said one section at a point adjacent the hinged connection of said sections, said bellcrank having one of its arms extending inwardly Yof said casing to a point adjacent said sparking wheel and coupling means secured to said arm for connection with ra valve part provided by. a nasi: disposable in said casing. f

2,. A lighter including in combination a pair of sections, each of said sections comprising a sub,- stantially longitudinal side wall and flanges, ex,- tending inwardly from the edges of said wall, a hinge connecting adjacent side flanges of different sections whereby the latter may be swung to positions adjacent each other to provide a casing, the area and outline of said walls and flanges being such that the casing provided thereby is relatively long in width and narrow in depth, a shaft rotatably mounted by one of said sections with its axis extending longitudinally of and adjacent the upper flange thereof, a sparking wheel and actuating roller carried by said shaft, a pyrophoric plug support carried by said section at a point adjacent said wheel, la bell-crank pivotally supported by said one section at a point adjacent the hinged connection of said sections, said bellcrank having one of its arms extending inwardly of said casing to a point adjacent said sparking wheel, coupling means secured to said arm for connection with a valve part provided by a flask disposable in said casing and the second arm of said bell-crank extending through an opening formed in the side flange of at least one section and adjacent said hinge.

3. A lighter including in combination a casing presenting an upper flange and an inner wall face, a frame secured to said face, spaced brackets extending from said frame, a shaft, an actuating roller and a sparking Wheel secured to said shaft, said shaft being rotatably mounted by said brackets to dispose its axis and the axes of said roller and wheel substantially parallel to said upper flange and with the periphery of said roller projecting beyond said ilange, a support for a pyrophoric plug mounted by said frame at a point adjacent said wheel, a further bracket forming a part of said frame to one side of said first named brackets, a pivot associated with said further bracket, an arm swingingly supported by said pivot to cooperate With a pyrophoric plug in said support, ra bell-crank also swingingly mounted by said pivot, one arm of said crank lying adjacent an edge of said wall, the other crank arm having its outer end extending adjacent said wheel and support and a coupling portion carried by said outer end for connection with a valve-actuating mechanism.

Ll. A lighter including in combination a pair of sections, each of said sections comprising a sub--A stantially longitudinal side Wall and angese'xtending inwardly from the edges of said Wall, a

hinge connecting adjacent side flanges of different sections whereby the latter may be swung to positions adjacent each other to provide a casing, the area and outline of said walls and flanges being such that the casing provided thereby is relatively long in width and narrow in depth, a shaft rotatably mounted by one of said sections with its axis extending longitudinally of and adjacent the upper flange thereof, a sparking wheel and actuating roller carried by said shaft, a pyrophoric plug support carried by said section at a point adjacent said wheel, a bell-crank pivotally supported by said one section at a point adjacent the hinged connection of said sections, said bellcrank having one of its arms extending inwardly of said casing to a point adjacent said sparking wheel, a flask shiftable into position within said casing, a movable valve assembly supported by said flask, a coupling portion forming a part of said assembly and a coupling at the end of the inwardly extending arm of said bell-crank and automatically connectible with the coupling portion of said valve assembly as said flask reaches a position wholly within said casing.

CHARLES L. METZLER. BILLI BOWEN.

8 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,995,380 Dodge Mar. 26, 1935 2,376,404 Thoms May 22, 1945 2,495,345 Quercia et al. Jan. 24, 1950 2,509,744 Quercia et al May 30, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 135,370 Austria Nov. 10, 1933 338,224 France Mar. 14, 1904 622,094 Germany Nov. 19, 1935 787,706 France July 8, 1935 810,535 France Dec. 28, 1936 923,219 France Feb. 17, 1947 

